Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-01
THE GRAND ARMY.
FroHrrSo oUASrRrLEs BAND.
A Brush with this Famous Bush
whacker at Independence, Mo.

On Feb. IA, 1862, the cd Ohio Cav.
was camping in the outskirts Of Kansas
City. Its business there was TO watch
Qusntrell, who at that time was organ
izing his famous company of BUSH
whackers and cut>throats 10 and around
Independence, Mo. IN the day fol.
lowing our arrival, just at dusk, there
came messenger, who reported that
Quantrell was in the town OF Independ.
ence, and had delivered a harangue at
one Of the public halls, calling to the
people to turn out and drive the inva>
ders from their soil. ue finally gath
cred n motley crowd, made up of all
sorts-the "rag tag and bob.tail" of
the country. Some OF them had on
blue jeans coats ami pants, others were
dresstd in butternut, while q few had on
store clothes. They were "hard citi.
zens." and Northern ''mudsill" would
get wiped out il he came in contact
with them-so they thought.
We were ordered to strike tents and
saddle up, and in seven minutes by the
watch we were ready. There were two
companies, E and l.. We left camp
about two o'clock q. m and at break
Of day were marching through the town.
One company was deployed, half on
each side, and the other went through
the centre, Our scouts were at the head
of the column. Two of them were
known as the "Red Legs" They be-
longed to Kansas, and were once with
John Brown. After dilligent search in
and around the town they came back
and reported that QuantIell was not
there. but had been there aud left be-
fore dark that evening.
We got the two companions together
and marched out of town to farm. house,
where there seemed to be plenty OF corn
standing in the shock in the field. We
were brought into line, dismountSd nd
ordered to gather corn and feed our
horses, which we did. Co. E, which
led the column, and was first ON the
ground, got the brides OIL first, and the
men rushed to the cornfeld to get their
fodder. We of Co. L had not yet got
our brides of, when we heard firing,
and on looking down the road toward
the town, we discovered our rear guard,
which we had left there for protection,
flying toward US, with Quantrell's men
in pursuit and firing into them.
We did not need orders, apd in less
than two minutes were in our saddles
Out of the gap in the fence we went,
Capt. Crawford Stewart at our head.
We drove the few men of Quantrell's
mob back to the town, where they
again mingled with Quan,relps maj
force, which was ready to receive US al
the lower end of tho town.
They were drawn up in line and fac
ing US, with Quantrell at their head
We went ON the jump, formed platoonl
30 men abreast without Stacking our
speed until we were within so feet ot
them. Then we opened with our revol
vers-Smith & Wesson self-cockers-
and gave it to them. They could no
stand the onslaught, but broke and raj
in all directions. We followed and pick
ed them off where ever we could fine
them.
We killed seven. took nine prisoners
and lost one man; he could not manage
his horse, and when the Southern chivalr.
ran he went with them and was shot il
back. So much for the brave man WHIT
sacked Lawrence and was the terror o
Missouri. -ScoTT\ SHERMAN, Co. L, q
Ohio Cav. StanberrY. Mo